Adjustable ratchet type wrench



Dec. 7, 1954 A. L. BURGESS 2,696,133

ADJUSTABLE RATCHET TYPE WRENCH Filed June 17. 1954 AUBREY L. B URGES3 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,696,133 ADJUSTABLE RATCHET TYPE WRENCH Aubrey L. Burgess, San Antonio, Tex.

Application June 17, 1954, Serial No. 437,464

2 Claims. (Cl. 81-100) This invention relates to a wrench and more particularly to an improved adjustable wrench construction.

Adjustable jaw wrenches of the general type disclosed herein, have several inherent disadvantages in that the construction is generally bulky and hard to handle. Also the operating mechanism is complicated and such that the device breaks easily upon the application of pressure or the parts become damaged whereby easy adjustment of the device, which is one of the primary objects of a wrench of this type, is inhibited.

Probably one of the most inherent objections to a wrench construction of the general type disclosed herein, has been that the wrench will not take the load or pressurilfior which wrenches of this size are normally designed to t c.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved wrench construction wherem such wrench will withstand normal use and wear over an extended period of time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in

a wrench of the type disclosed herein, a stationary and movable jaw, the movable jaw being provided with a shank which is adapted to extend through an opening in a head arranged on the rear or back edge of the wrench handle, and a dog having a tooth swingable in an are located beyond the lower portion of the head and adapted to selectively engage one of a series of teeth on the shank to position the movable jaw relative to the stationary jaw.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a wrench comprising a handle, a jaw at its upper end, a head extending rearwardly of the ,back edge of the handle adjacent the jaw, there being an opening extending through said head and offset from the longitudinal axis of said handle, a front surface and rear surface of said opening having downwardly converging tapers, the movable jaw including a jaw member and a shank, which shank extends through and is rockable and slidable in said opening, a cut-away portion in the lower front surface of said opening, a pin extending laterally through said head and cut-away portion, and a dog pivotally mounted on said pin, and having a tooth swingable in an arc located beyond the lower side of said head and selectively engageable with one of a series of teeth on said shank to position the movable jaw relative to said stationary jaw.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of the wrench and its preferred embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section showing the internal construction of the wrench;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along 4--4 of Fig. 1 and shows the tongue and groove connection between the jaw and handle.

The invention is denominated by the general numeral 3 and is shown as comprising a handle 4 with a hole 5 in the lower end 6 thereof, whereby the wrench may be conveniently hung on a nail when not in use. The upper end 7 of the handle 4 is provided with a jaw 8 which is secured to the handle as illustrated in Fig. 4.

A lower surface 9 of the jaw is provided with an extension 10 substantially midway thereof which extends vertically and lengthwise of the jaw 8. A vertical groove 11 in the upper end of the handle is provided to receive 0 the projection on the lower surface of the jaw. A pin 12 "ice rigidly secures the jaw in the handle to prevent relative movement therebetween.

Extending rearwardly of the back edge 13 of the handle 4 is a head 14. The head is on the upper end 7 of the handle and is provided with a longitudinal opening 15 extending therethrough, which opening is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the handle 4. A back wall 16 and a front wall 17 of the opening have converging tapers as more clearly seen in Fig. 3. A rear surface 18 of the jaw 8 has a taper to conform with the taper 17 on the front wall of the opening. As shown in Fig. 3, the groove 11 is provided with a slope 20 whereby the jaw will be positioned in the groove at the proper angle so as to make the taper on walls 17 and 18 continuous.

A movable jaw 21 including a jaw member 22 and shank 23 is provided, which shank slidably fits within the opening 15. It is also to be noted that the taper and configuration of the opening 15 allow the movable jaw 21 to rock back and forth, and to slide up and down in the opening 15 in the head 14.

As more clearly seen in Fig. 3, a cut-away portion 24 is provided in the front Wall 17 of the opening 15 which cut-away portion is arranged adjacent the lower edge 25 of the head 14. The cut-away portion is of a suitable configuration to receive a dog 26 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 27 that extends through the cut-away portion and the head 14, the dog 26 having a tooth swingable in an are spaced below the lower edge 25 of the head 14.

A series of teeth 27 are arranged on a front edge 28 of the shank and are adapted to be selectively engaged by the tooth of the dog 26, which tooth is urged into such engagement by a leaf spring 30 which is secured on the rear or back edge 13 of the handle 4 and adjacent the lower edge 25 of head 14.

Particular attention is directed to the construction shown in the drawing in that the dog tooth which positions the jaw member 22 relative to the jaw 8 is positioned below the jaws a substantial distance and beyond the lower edge of the head. This construction enables better load distribution when the device is engaged with a pipe, rod, or the like, and increases the sturdiness and strength of the wrench.

It is to be noted that the dog 26 is provided with ears 28 as more clearly seen in Fig. 2 whereby such dog may be moved forwardly against the tension in the leaf spring to release its engagement with the teeth 27 on the shank 23. A pin 28 extending through the shank adjacent a lower end 29 thereof projects outwardly from the plane of the shank and helps to protect the cars 28 while the device is being used. It is also to be noted that the pin 27' which extends across the cut-away portion also projects from opposite sides of the head 14 so that it cooperates with the pin 28' to form a protective shield for the projecting ears 28.

Surfaces 31 and 32 of the jaws 8 and 22 respectively are knurled or provided with some other suitable configuration whereby the jaw members will tend to dig into or take a bite into any object which is placed between the jaw members.

By pressing the ears 28 forwardly, the dog 26 is moved against the tension of the leaf spring whereupon the dog tooth disengages the selected tooth 27 on the shank 23. The shank 23 may then be slidably moved in the opening 15 so as to space the jaw member 22 relative to the jaw member 8 so that the proper clearance or distance therebetween will be provided so that the object may be engaged by the jaws. As pressure is applied to the wrench, the shank will assume the position shown in dotted outline at 35 in Fig. 3. It is to be noted that the taper of the front and rear walls of the opening 15 in the head 14 accommodates such movement. The tooth of the dog 26 will stay engaged with the selected tooth 27 until disengaged by manipulation of the ears 28.

From the foregoing, it seems obvious that a wrench construction is provided which is not only sturdy and easily operable, but provides structural advantages which overcome difficulties heretofore encountered in wrenches of this type.

This application is a continuation of my prior copend- Patented Dec. 7, 1954' ing application Serial No. 230,470, filed June 8, 1951, for Wrench, now abandoned.

What is claimed is: 1. A wrench comprising a handle, a jaw at its uppe end, a head extending rearwardly from said handleyadja cent said jaw, said head having a longitudinally extending opening spaced from the longitudinal axis of said handle,

the rear and front walls of said opening being, tapered,

and converging toward the lower end of said head, a

movable jaw including a jaw, member and a shank, which.

shank extends through and is slidable in saiduopening,

the front wall of said opening having a cut-away portionadjacent the lower part of said head, .a fixed ,pin extend ing laterally through said head and cut-away portion near the lower end of said head, a dog pivotally mounted,

position said jaw member relative to said jaw on the,

upper end of said handle.

2. A wrench comprising a handle, a jawat its upper end, a head extending rearwardly from said handle adja- 25 cent said jaw, said head having a longitudinally extending opening spaced from the longitudinal axis of said handle, the rear and front walls of said openingbeing tapered and converging toward the lower end of said head, a movable jaw including a jaw member and a shank, which shank extends through and is slidable-in said opening,-the front wall of said opening having-a cut-away portion adjacent the lower part of said head, afixed pin extending laterally through said head and cut-away portion near the lower end of said head, a dog pivotally mounted on said pin and having a tooth swingable in an are located beyond the lower end of said head, .a series of teeth on the front edge of said shank, a leaf spring mounted on the back edge of said handle'and normally urging said dog tooth into engagement with a selected tooth on said shank to position said shank within said head and to position said jaw member-relative to said jawon the upper end of said handle, ears mounted on each side of said dog whereby said dogn ay be moved forwardly against said spring to disengage said dog tooth and said shank, and a pin extending through said movable jaw shank adjacent the rear end thereof and projecting outwardly from opposite sides of the shank for, protecting said ears mounted on said $1.08.

References Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

